A process for designing and manufacturing precision-folded, high strength,
fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet therefore. The techniques
include methods for precision bending of a sheet of material (41, 241,
341, 441, 541) along a bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543) and a sheet of
material formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or
grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542), are disclosed. Methods include steps of
designing and then separately forming longitudinally extending slits or
grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542) through the sheet of material in axially
spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet (41, 241, 341,
441, 541) when bent along the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543). The
bending straps have a configuration and orientation which increases their
strength and fatigue resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are
used which causes edges (257, 457) to be engaged and supported on faces
(255, 455) of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits or arcs.
The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum
position in superimposed relation to the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445,
543). Several slit embodiments (43, 243, 343, 443, 542) suitable for
producing edge-to-face engagement support and precise bending are
disclosed, as is the use of the slit sheets to produce various
three-dimensional structures and to enhance various design and
fabrication techniques.